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Unitary executive theory claims that everyone in the executive branch works for the president alone politi.co/2reBr9f @politico (1/11)
@politico UET is based on Article II of the Constitution: "The executive power shall be vested in the president of the United States..." (2/11)
@politico And based on the fact that Article II does not describe the bureaucracy or POTUS' relationship to it. (3/11)
@politico This theory is highly disputed for several reasons. (4/11)
@politico Every office in the executive branch, except the P and VP, is created &funded by Congress, and directed by laws that Congress passes. (5/11)
@politico Exec officials are charged, like the president, with executing the law. Their boss is the law/Congress as much as the president. (6/11)
@politico Many exec branch officials are protected from firing by the president. (Think civil service mailmen or Janet Yellen). (7/11)
@politico A leading scholar of the presidency characterized the original 19th century presidency as a "clerkship." amazon.com/Presidential-P… (8/11)
@politico Article II also: the P can "require the Opinion", of cabinet "upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices" (9/11)
@politico That clause implies that exec branch officials will have duties/opinions that they execute independently of the president's actions. (10/11
@politico For more discussion, check out the A Few Reasonable Words podcast on presidential power. afewreasonablewords.libsyn.com/ep-24-presiden… (11/11)
